Short Cases

Coloring books are associated with childhood and happy memories of simpler times. Learning to color within the lines of fantasy creatures and other recognizable forms shaped our early impressions of drawing and art in general. The concentration level required to complete the many pages occupied us for many hours. Today, the adult coloring book is…

What is the core competency or capability that underlies the success of Mountain Dew? Drinkers of the sugary, caffeinated, colored, flavored, and carbonated beverage remain loyal in spite of the overall decline in sales across the soda industry. Owned by PepsiCo, the…

“At the Adidas Group, our love for sport drives who we are and what we do. Every day.” Adidas began in 1924 in Bavaria, Germany, as a small company dedicated to providing athletes with the best possible equipment. Early gold medal winners in Europe were supplied by Adidas. The company split into Puma and Adidas…

Who did you think invented the potato chip? The origin of this staple of national and international cuisine is credited to George Crum (1853) in the US under the name Saratoga chips and to William Kitchiner (1822) in the UK, where it is known as a crisp. There is some discussion that Crum’s sister, Katie…

Strategy formation and implementation in the fashion industry are affected greatly by the consumer’s attitude toward change. This industry forms around trends that often are defined by discontinutities. In order to create on-going consumer willingness to purchase, several companies have moved toward a JIT approach to the design-manufacturer-distribution cycle. Copying and adapting haute couture runway…

From its beginning in 1986 as the Silver King Broadcasting Company, IAC grows through acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, and spin-offs. The early business revolved around the Home Shopping Network and then moved into other entertainment areas through acquisition of Savoy Pictures Entertainment, Ticketmaster, Universal Studios television assets, Match.com, and the Hotel Reservation Network. At the turn…

Expedia, Inc. is buying up the online competition in travel-related offers. Online travel services in their portfolio include bookings for flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, concierge and activity services for leisure and business clients. A recent report by market research company, PhoCusWright, suggests that online travel agent (OTA) business is declining in part due to…

The history of chocolate consumption dates back 4000 years ago to Mesoamerica, a region within what is known as Central America today, when pre-Colombian people harvested the cacao seeds for culinary and pecuniary use. By the mid 1800’s, European usage of the bean for beverages and candies opened up a wealthy, new market for cacao. …

Expatriates find ways to socialize with other expatriates, no matter the cultural differences. There is a common understanding of a world view that makes social bonding relatively easy, at least on the surface. Given this month’s research article on global leadership training and the current state of these programs, future leaders need ways to immerse…

Robert Mugabe Mulindwa is a young Ugandan entrepreneur whose story illustrates the necessity for strategic skills, patience, tenacity and vision in a country that today looks much like we might imagine our forefathers faced in the US, when they first arrived and began building our nation. To place this entrepreneur in his setting, it is…